It’s Mel!

The first of our Teen Talk blogs come from our Children’s Worker Mel!

The office is closed, life feels very different, but its Wednesday, so the After Adoption Team at Scottish Adoption are together at their usual time for the weekly staff meeting. However, this week, we’re beaming-in for our first virtual video meet up. As I waited for the meeting to begin, I reflected on my own week. It’s been tough. I’ve felt a bit wobbly and am worried about what all of this situation and its current restrictions would mean for my ability to practice. That said, as each of the team’s familiar yet pixelated faces appeared and we shared, laughed and supported one another, I felt re-assured, more relaxed and ready to get back to working in supporting our families. Plans have been made to ensure that our Social Workers will continue to offer regular individual video/voice calls and that our therapists are creating innovative ways to offer Music, Art and Occupational Therapy. So basically: same, same; but different.

This week I experienced first hand that staying connected, no matter what form it takes, is incredibly important. Scottish Adoption is a community that supports one another and we want to continue to support you the same we always have. If you need any support for you or your family over this difficult time, for any reason, please get in touch. We’re in this together.

Mini Blog number 2 will from our Teen Ambassadors The ISOL8EENS

Family Christmas Celebration

I remember not being able to sleep the first Christmas Eve we had with our son…

Our Son’s first Christmas with us was an amazing bundle of emotions.  He was 2 and I definitely think my husband and I were more excited about it than he was.  Growing up Christmas was always a big thing for us so I was super excited.  I remember not being able to sleep the first Christmas Eve we had with our son, and we couldn’t wait for him to wake up on Christmas morning. We had to wait until 8am for him to wake up and it was torture ha ha!  He opened his stocking in our bedroom and his wee face when he saw it was a picture.  He took a present out of his stocking and opened it very carefully and sat on the bed and played with it, he loved it, me on the other hand, couldn’t wait for him to open the rest of them.  Did I mention I was super excited ha ha

After he had opened his stocking we went downstairs to see the presents that Santa had left him.  Coming down the stairs he saw all the presents in the mirror and all we heard was “wow wow wow”.  He was so careful unwrapping the presents until we said “It’s okay you can rip them open” then all hell broke loose but it was such an amazing day.

Now Christmas Day is absolute bedlam in our house with the addition of our second son.  It’s loud with excitement and laughter and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  Their favourite thing to do on Christmas morning is to scoop up all the wrapping paper and put it all in a bin bag which they duly empties and starts all over again.  I loved Christmas growing up but I love it so much more with the boys.  It can get a bit overwhelming for them but we go at their pace and it has been known for all of us to be in our pj’s all day which is the best bit!

Jehovah Witnesses Family Celebrations

Jehovah Witness come from diverse backgrounds world wide and made up of many different people from different cultures and ethnicity!

Our Jehovah Witnesses families believe the important values associated with being Jehovah Witnesses is love, respect, peace, honesty, connection and acceptance and they abide by these values by promoting it in their daily actions. They do not believe in violence and as such abstain from participating in violent or aggressive actions including military service.

Jehovah Witnesses believes in equality. They see all races and ethnicity as equal. Jehovah Witnesses come from diverse backgrounds world wide and made up of many different people from different cultures and ethnicity.  Our Jehovah Witnesses families appreciate their religion encourages connections that transcends boundaries within families but also within their wider community.

One family told us that “Throughout the year there are many special days where we celebrate together as family and friends. We don’t celebrate Christmas or Birthdays by giving presents on these occasions but by spending quality time as a family and extended family to reconnect, but presents are given year round not just on Christmas or birthdays. This might be by going on holiday, having quiet family time at home or doing a fun child friendly activity. Doing this for them promotes unity as a family, fun and shared joy. This year we all had a wonderful day at our nieces wedding. our Son was so proud to be her page boy! We’ve also had some exciting family trips away to celebrate wedding anniversaries. We take these times to reconnect with family who live further away. We had a great time catching up with family in South Africa enjoying time together on Safari. Cherished times making lasting memories whilst enjoying some phenomenal cakes!

We always make sure that achievements are celebrated. When Fraser’s cousin graduated from nursery the kids all loved the cakes and presents. Then before Fraser started primary school he had a party for all his friends – the bouncy castle was a huge hit. We have so many times through the year where we celebrate both an individual achievements and special family occasions.”

Danish Golden Wedding Anniversary

“we wake up the couple with singing, often trumpet music or banging pots and pans – utter Danish madness”

In Denmark you celebrate your golden wedding anniversary probably like in most countries by having a party with all your nearest and dearest. The difference being that in Denmark local friends and neighbours meet up the night before the big day to create a wreath to hang round the main door of the couple’s house. It’s made by creating a long garland of pine branches with added flowers and fairy lights and then topped off with a heart shape sign with their names on which hangs above the door.

Once finished everyone is invited into the couples home for soup, cake and coffee. Everyone will then return very early the next morning to wake up the couple with singing, often trumpet music or banging pots and pans – utter Danish madness, I know! Once woken up the couple walks through the door with the wreath to greet their neighbour and friends once more. It’s a way of re-confirming their marriage as the same tradition/ritual happens at their wedding although people don’t show up in the morning thank goodness as you would be late for church!

The tradition is that you invite your friends and neighbours in again for breakfast and hopefully manage to ‘kick’ them out before the actual party starts later that day, it is certainly full on.